Ryan Hyatt has a singular, disturbing habit… Well, I’m sure he has more than one, as all good writers do….

Ryan Hyatt has dropped a new short story in his Terrafide universe, and you may need to buckle up for it.

“What in God’s name is that smell?”
“It takes a greater mind than mine to put a name to what it is.
I’m told he calls it his Peace Ray.
The smell can’t be helped.  The device scorches the air.
Also, I’d imagine there may be minute articles of sheep in it…”


“I’m sorry, Dez… But you can’t build a home upon a lie…
One way or another… This is the end of the line.”

“I am a Ranger Scout… and I believe in the Seven Laws.
From nuclear fire to radioactive waste, I will not succumb to the Badlands… for I am d-descended from the Prophet…. and his w-words shall not be denied.”
“Commander— hazard detected!
“Hear my prayer. And let me fear not the wilderness of death… now and forevermore, I am a Ranger Scout,,,”
“Seek shelter immediately!!”

“You think the Badlands are fair, boy?!  You forget yourself, Dez — Remember Hancock’s Fourth Law!”
“Y-yes, sir… ‘A Scout always obeys his scoutmaster without question.’”
“Good.  Then accept my judgment.  See Kit as motivation, not a threat.  Besides… I thought you two were like brother, were you not?”
“… Some things change, Father… Not all friendships last forever…:

“I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to…
But I saw him… The Prophet… I saw Doctor Hancock…
And I… I watched him die."

“… but of all our tenets, the Final Law is the most sacrosanct.  For we all know Hancock’s Seventh Law…”
“A SCOUT’S HONOR MUST NEVER BE IN QUESTION.”

“What?  You want me to go live with Zed?!”
“I wish you wouldn’t call him that.  He’s still your dad.”
“But…we barely even see him!”
“He visits for the holidays!”
“Yeah, but weird random holidays that no one here has ever heard of!”
“That’s not true! Panathena is a very big deal in Greece.”
“Really, Mom?!  Panthena?  I don’t think that’s big deal anywhere…”

“As time marches on, Kaza has come to view his solitary existence as a necessary sacrifice, his home a sanctuary from a hostile world that doesn’t always look favorably on cops.  By spending his free time reading cyberpunk novels, playing video games, and masturbating to porn, Gaza’s desire of preforming in a band and enjoying a satisfying relationship remained unrealized…”
“What belongs to me in this world, after all, besides what’s within these walls?  What claim to this world do I have beyond them?”
“My alter-ego, Simon, might say, 'Nada.’"